A/N I'm glad people are enjoying the end of this story. And great news, C30 is already written since I overclocked last night!

R&R!

Chapter 29: When The Past And The Future Meet

For a moment, Lincoln simply stares at the young man in his midst. From what he can see, he has light skin- though his face lacks the freckles that he had gotten so used to seeing. And much like himself, his hair is snow white, with a familiar three-pronged cowlick, which everyone could recognize him by.

"Hey Linc, what's goin' on?" The older boy gives a shy wave, before turning back to the scene at hand, "Though, from what I can see, it looks like everything's finally come together, am I right?"

"M-me?" ˇhe young responds in shock, "You're me?!"

"Yeah…" he rubs the back of his head, "I think I should explain before we go any further. This is always the most awkward part of this conversation."

The young boy remains silent.

"So, what happens next is I do some stuff to send you home." He waves his hand for a moment, "After that, Lisa's gonna start working on the watch trying to figure out what I did, and in six years she's going to perfect the watch, which allows me to come back here to help you."

The young boy remains awestruck, unsure of what else to say.

So his older counterpart just shakes his head, "This is always the hardest part." He offers his hand, "Why don't you come with me and we can talk a bit more."

"This is a horrible idea…" The young Lincoln sighs in defeat, "But… it's not like I have a choice, now do I?" He then nods, "All right, me, lead the way."

And with that, his older self nods, before taking hold of his hand and leading him out of the school.

And within moments, they're sitting on the curb, gazing upon the endless cosmos above them… although the younger Lincoln chooses to let it seem that way.

"I should've stayed with Lori… I could've made it work, right?" His mind begins to wander, "All of those times I've spent with her… those were some of the best times of my life… she taught me what it was like to be in charge- to take responsibility for what I do… and I fell in love with her…"

"Hey Linc." The young man rubs his younger self's back and speaks with a soft tone, "You all right?"

The younger boy turns to his counterpart, raising an eyebrow in annoyance, "I just had to dump the girl of my dreams, how do you think I feel?"

The older boy sighs in response, before turning away and looking towards the sky once more, "Don't worry Linc, you get over it… eventually…"

For a moment, the younger boy remains silent, before taking a deep breath, "Yeah, "I know. I think I'm over it aleady

"No." Older Lincoln cuts him off, "You're not going to be over it any time soon." He sighs.

"Why do you say that?" He looks away, "Yeah, it had to be, this had to be."

The older boy chuckles in response, before patting his younger self's head, "Simple really Linc. You want to be over it. You're trying to tell yourself that this had to happen. That logically your relationship with past Lori just wouldn't have worked out, no matter what."

His younger self remains silent, seemingly awestruck by the spot-on call out.

The young man sighs, "Right now, you don't see the version of Lori you were dating as your sister. You just have to convince yourself that Lori is your sister- albeit a close one, but your sister nonetheless, and everything will work out.

"That sounds… easy…" The young boy looks away, deciding instead to stare at a nearby puddle- though he finds himself simply looking at a reflection of Lori rather than his own.

"Everything sounds easy when someone says it aloud." He chuckles, "You and I both know that our plans seem easy when we say them, though they usually end up going awry."

For the next moment, the young boy remains silent, his chest still aching from breaking up with her.

"This is always the hardest part." The older Lincoln wraps his arm around his younger counterpart, a soft smile already forming on his face, "If it's any consolation, I made sure that your time with Lori would've been one of the best times in your lives."

Suddenly, the young boy perks up, looking up at his companion as he does so, "Really?"

He nods, "Yeah." He sticks his hand in his pocket, pulling out a small wallet as he does so, "I'm the reason why you were able to catch Lori when she almost fell into the fountain." He chuckles, "Didn't you wonder where that ball came from?!"

Suddenly, Lincoln's eyes go wide in realization. He saw himself standing by after the ball hit Lori!

"And I'm the guy who gave you that money at the theater." His older self continues. "Remember that stupid fake voice I put on trying to make sure you couldn't recognize me?"

"Yeah…" Lincoln's heart begins to race. Everything his older self is saying is true! Had he not intervened when he did, he would've most likely gotten things done sooner! And wouldn't be feeling what he is.

"And let's not forget the arcade." He chuckles, "I challenged you to take on Lori."

"So what you're saying is, if it wasn't for me screwing up my plans to get Bobby together with Lori, I wouldn't be feeling like this right now?!" The younger Lincoln flares his arms, "What the heck man?!"

"Heh, it's because had you been able to succeed early, you wouldn't have a chance to bond with Lori when you get back." He then turns and looks his younger self in the eyes once more, "Plus, you pushed Luna and Lynn in the right direction and helped Leni and Luan in their crafts!" He then turns back to the starry sky with a smile, "I'd say making sure that everyone's happy is worth a little sacrifice."

"Yeah… I guess…" The younger Lincoln takes another deep breath, before pouting.

"Hey dude, don't worry. Everything's gonna be all right." He chuckles, "If anything, you're going home soon."

"Really?" He looks up, "How?"

The older boy pulls out a small chip and screwdriver, before he grabs ahold of his younger self's watch, "Simple, I'm gonna repair this… I hope that Lisa's instructions were right!"

"They probably are…" He sighs, "Well… while you're doing this, can I at least get some spoilers?"

"Of course." The older boy begins to tinker with the device, "Before you ask anything else, let me explain, this adventure of ours runs on a stable time loop. Everything that you and I have done has happened countless times before, and I had done it too, ok?"

"I think I get it…" Lincoln rubs the back of his head, before steeling himself, doing his best to put on strong front, "All right… we both know all the time travel tropes. There's stuff you can and can't answer because it's supposed to happen a specific way, right?"

The older boy nods, "Yeah, Lisa called it a 'predestination paradox'."

The younger boy then takes a deep breath, "All right then, I'll ask you questions, if you can't answer then just say 'pass' ok?"

The young man nods, "All right, start."

Given what just happened, the first question is obvious, "Does Lori stay with Bobby?"

The older boy nods, "Yeah, they're still dating by my point in time, though he proposed to her and she accepted."

The younger Lincoln's heart sinks ever so slightly.

"Don't worry mate, she's happy with him." The older boy pats his head, "You and I both know it was for the best."

"I know…" Younger Lincoln rubs his arm in nervousness, "Do I at least stay with Ronnie Anne?"

The older Lincoln considers the idea for a moment, before smiling, "I'll pass."

"Ok…" Though he hopes that that smile means the best, "Does Clyde ever get over Lori?"

"Yeah." He chuckles, "Make sure he talks to Paige more."

"Got it." The younger boy chuckles, "Does Luna ever make it big?"

"Yeah." He nods, "She ends up making an album with Mick swagger."

"Awesome." Lincoln rubs his chin for a moment, "Well… this is gonna come up anyways, "Do I get any more sisters?"

For a moment, the older Lincoln rubs his chin as well, seemingly unsure of just how to respond to the question, "Hmm, at this point in time, you don't get any more sisters after Lily, though that's nothing saying about the future."

Younger Lincoln wipes the sweat from his brow, "Phew, it's hard to survive in a house with ten girls!"

"I know, I had to go through it all." He chuckles.

"Do Luan's jokes get any better?" The boy continues.

"By a mile."

Suddenly, Lincoln pats himself on the back, "I guess my advice helped her after all." Before smiling, "Do you still sleep in the closet?"

The young man waves him off, "Pass."

"Can you tell me about prom?" Lincoln raises an eyebrow.

"Nope." He nonchalantly responds.

"Well… Do Same and Luna ever get together?" Lincoln's curiosity begins to peak, though his older self waves him off again, "Pass."

Finally, he sighs, "I guess that makes sense… do I ever get a real award in that case?"

He nods, "Yeah, you do actually."

"Really?!" Young Lincoln's eyes go wide in surprise, "For what?!"

"Your passion." The young man chuckles, "And before you ask, I'm not gonna tell you what it is nor when you find it."

Curiosity begins to fill the boy, "Are you just repeating what you were told by the older you when you were in my place?"

"You got it." He chuckles in response, before popping the final piece of the watch into place, "There, this should fix it."

"Thanks… for everything." Lincoln sighs, "What should I do to help Lori out?"

"Well, when you get back, go to her. Talk a bit and hug it out. After all, you both have some stuff to get cleared up." The young boy stands up, "And remember, you're gonna be all right Lincoln, you're gonna have a great life, and Lori will always be by your side, as your older sister."

"I know." He sighs, "But… it still hurts."

"Same, but don't worry everything's gonna be fine." And with that, the older Lincoln taps the watch, causing Lincoln to glow for a moment.

"Wait!" He shouts, "I don't think I taught Lori the song!"

The young man waves him off, before holding up a tape recorder, "Don't worry, I forgot too! I've got it handled!"

"And the picture?" Lincoln tilts his head in confusion.

"Lisa's surprisingly good at photoshop." He chuckles. "Don't worry, everything's covered.

"Close one." Lincoln can't help, but chuckle at the thought.

Suddenly, the world around him melts away and before he knows it, he's standing in Lisa's room again, his sisters surrounding him in surprise.

"You're home!" They shout in unison.

Lisa looks on in confusion, "How is this possible?! I have not finished the repairs."

"Yeah… I'm home…" He remains silent for a moment, before answering, "I'll explain later." Then, he turns back to his sisters and sighs, "I need to talk to Lori."

"She's in her room." Lisa hops to her feet and takes the watch off his arm.

Leni then cuts in and places her hands on his shoulders, "Go to her, she's refused to talk to anyone else."

"Understood." And with that, Lincoln pushes through the crowd of his sisters, and steps out of his youngest sisters' room.

13-1-14, 12-9-14-3-15-12-14 18-5-1-12-12-25 4-15-5-19 8-1-22-5 9-19-19-21-5-19! 8-5 10-21-19-20 19-16-5-14-20 20-8-9-19 5-14-20-9-18-5 3-8-1-16-20-5-18 20-1-12-11-9-14-7 20-15 8-9-13-19-5-12-6!

A/N I hope you guys enjoyed! I thank Wolvenstrom for all of his help! Only one chapter remains!

Review Replies:

DreadedCandiru2: That's why tis story is able to run on a stable time loop!

BoukenDutch: Yep! The man has finally made himself know and gave him the best advice he'll need!

DarthSidious04: In order to maintain the time loop, yes.

That Engineer: I have to call the doctor or the time paradox enforcement squadron!

Zoinks81: I hope you enjoyed the explanation!

Guest: Basically, you're spot on!

gamelover41592: What a twist!

Yellowpikmin88: The Doctor would be proud.

Finnjr63: Yep! Thanks!

JJ39: He did, because things had to loop back!

rctperson85: Heh, nice one mate!

TheLivingMyth: Yeah, older Lincoln is here! And it looks like I did my job well enough!

DJTimmer: Thanks mate! You're just in time to see the ending!

celrock: Yep, everything's coming full circle! Though, given my short plans for this story, there really isn't much room left for disaster sadly. Thanks for the support!